Vehicle appraisal – terms and definitions
Things to know after an accident
Welcome to our „Things to Know“ page. Here you’ll find concise, concise explanations of technical terms used in vehicle appraisals and related fields. Our goal is to provide you with a clear and accessible resource to help you better understand the world of appraisals and vehicle valuation.
Our concise explanations are designed to present complex concepts simply and clearly. We understand that technical terms can often be confusing, so we’ve developed this resource to provide you with clarity. Whether you’re just diving into the subject matter or want to deepen your knowledge, our „Things to Know“ page offers you a quick and informative solution.
We regularly update our explanations to ensure you’re always up to date. If you miss a specific term or need more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Sharing your knowledge is important to us, and we’re here to help you better understand the world of vehicle appraisals.
Vehicle appraisal: Frequently asked questions
Deductions for "New for Old"
According to Section 249 of the German Civil Code (BGB), the insurer of the party responsible for the accident is obligated to restore the injured party’s financial situation to its pre-accident condition. The compensation provided may neither place the injured party in a better nor a worse position than before the accident.
If an accident-damaged vehicle is repaired during the repair process, this can lead to an increase in value. This increase in value must be taken into account in the appraisal to prevent unjust enrichment of the injured party. This means that repairs after an accident may not increase the value of the vehicle compared to the situation before the damage occurred.
Therefore, if worn parts, such as worn tires, are replaced during the repair process, this increase in value must be deducted. However, only verifiable increases in value can be taken into account, and the exact amount of the deduction is determined by the vehicle appraiser.
Deductions for value improvements
„New for old“ deductions generally apply to the settlement of comprehensive insurance claims, as regulated in Section 2.5.2 of the General Terms and Conditions for Motor Insurance (AKB). These deductions are applied if:
During repair or maintenance, old parts are replaced by new parts, or
A vehicle is repainted either entirely or in parts.
For motorcycles, passenger cars, and buses, these deductions on tires, paintwork, or batteries may only be made until the end of the fourth year after initial registration. For other vehicles, this restriction applies until the end of the third year after initial registration.
Minor damage
Minor damage refers to accident damage that currently does not exceed €750. If the amount of damage is below this limit, the injured party has the right to commission an independent vehicle appraiser, and the costs will be covered by the opposing party’s insurance company. Otherwise, the appraisal costs will not be reimbursed.
As a rule, minor damage should be clearly identifiable. According to the case law of the Federal Court of Justice (BGH), damage is considered minor damage if there is only superficial paint damage (cf. BGH WM 1987, 137 [under II 2 b]; BGH WM 1982, 511; cf. also BGH NJW 1967, 1222; BGH DS 2008, 104, 106) and no other sheet metal damage is present, and further consequential damage can be ruled out (BGH DS 2008, 104, 106). Whether a vehicle owner can commission a motor vehicle expert to assess the damage depends on whether it was clearly evident to them that the damage in question was purely superficial, affected only the paintwork, and did not exceed the minor damage threshold. According to the established case law of the Federal Court of Justice (cf. for example: BGHZ 160, 377, 383; BGH VersR 2006, 986, 987; BGH VersR 2007, 516, 517; BGH VersR 2008, 235, 237), this depends on the knowledge of the injured vehicle owner and how the damage appears to him as a technical layman (cf. also OLG Karlsruhe NJW 1988, 1333 = VersR 1989, 191).
Even seemingly minor external damage can lead to high repair costs that are not apparent to a layperson. Therefore, various local courts have already taken the view that the injured party cannot be denied the right to an expert (AG Bochum VAR 1980, 374; AG Freiburg VersR 1987, 1103 L; AG Köln VersR 1988, 1251; AG Lingen SP 1999, 178; AG München VersR 1999, 332, BGH NJW 2005, 356).
Your advantage: We offer free consultations and on-site damage assessments, and we’ll inform you whether the damage is minor or whether a vehicle appraisal is required. If the damage is actually below the minor damage threshold (approximately €750), the insurance company generally won’t cover the costs of a vehicle appraisal. In such cases, however, we offer the option of preparing a cost-effective, brief appraisal.